Área marina y costera protegida Lafken Mapu Lahual, Marine protected area in Osorno Province, Chile
Lafken Mapu Lahual is a protected coastal area in southern Chile stretching about 32 kilometers between two headlands and extending one nautical mile seaward from the high tide line. The region combines forest areas along the shore with adjacent marine waters that support diverse wildlife typical of the Valdivian forest ecosystem.
The area received official protection status in December 2005 through government decree. This designation reflected efforts to safeguard the region's vulnerable marine and forest ecosystems from extractive industries.
The Mapuche Huilliche communities have lived along this coast for generations and continue to practice sustainable harvesting from the sea. You can observe how local people maintain their connection to the land and ocean through their daily activities.
Access is limited to non-extractive activities like wildlife watching and hiking in designated areas. Visitors should stick to marked zones and follow local guidelines to help preserve the protected ecosystems.
The site harbors over 700 different marine species alongside hundreds of plant species, creating one of South America's less recognized biodiversity hotspots. This wealth of life makes it a rare location where temperate forest and ocean ecosystems directly meet.
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